Season Two
Sustaining a Creative Career with Adrienne Dawes '04
Award-winning playwright, producer, and teaching artist Adrienne Dawes ’04 joins Rebecca Wilson ’24, Zoe Fonck ’23, and Kat Lynch ’24 to discuss sustaining a creative career. She explains the importance of staying “nimble” in a portfolio career, the applicable skills that come from a Sarah Lawrence education, and the importance of staying genuine when building and maintaining a professional and social network. She speaks candidly about viewing "survival jobs" as a source of inspiration, and remembering that “writing isn’t always at the desk.”
Related Resources
Careers in Education and Social Services with Chris Girgenti '10
Chris Girgenti '10, Director of Environmental Programs at Randall’s Island Park Alliance, talks with Aubrey Baker '23, Sophie Hammond '24, and Julius Persaud '24 about topics such as salary ranges, financial resources such as 401Ks to prepare for the future, and habits that help balance work responsibilities while prioritizing self-care. Chris shared this great advice with students: "Manage your energy not your time," explaining the benefits of scheduling hard tasks for when you are most energized and saving the "quick, easy stuff" for when you have less energy in your day.
Related Resources
Pursuing a Career in Film and Entertainment with Ivy Meeropol '90
Ivy Meeropol '90 began her career as a speech writer before shifting into journalism, with work appearing in acclaimed publications such as The New York Times and Premiere. In this discussion, Ivy speaks with Josefine Filipowski '26, Molly Healey '25, and Manuela Pacheco '25 about entering the film industry after college, the intricacies of the film festival circuit, and how a Sarah Lawrence education has impacted her career. Ivy shares that studying creative writing was a big help in her career and has stayed with her all these years, saying: "Whether you're a journalist, a screenwriter, a documentary film director, or writing a novel you are engaging in storytelling."
Related Resources
Navigating Career Paths and Maintaining Balance with Kaitlin Kindman '07
Kaitlin Kindman '07 speaks with Jason Ciron '24, Enger Polanco '25, and Allie Zapson '25 about her career journey, from her undergraduate education at Sarah Lawrence—which she described as impactful and engaging—to her graduate studies at New York University, where she received her Master of Social Work. Kaitlin discusses her motivation behind the founding of her own company, Kindman & Co, creating a sustainable place for mental health professionals to be productive in their work towards mental health intervention, and a place where services can extend into the community and have an impact on the larger system.
Related Resources
The Business of Being Creative with Jeff McDaniel '90
Writing faculty member Jeff Mcdaniel '90 discusses the intersection between business and creativity and how to balance one's creative interests with their career. In conversation with Lindsey Madden '24 and Henrik Nielsen '24, Jeff talks about starting off in contemporary poetry classes at Sarah Lawrence and the extra curricular activites that gave him great writing experience. He was on a weekly soap opera satire called Serial with fellow alumna Julianna Margulies. His advice to students is to "take classes that you are interested in."
"
Related Resources
Social justice beyond Sarah Lawrence with Jesse Bernstein' 04
In this episode, social justice beyond Sarah Lawrence, we are speaking with Jesse Bernstein who graduated in 2,004 who works as the Senior Advisor for the office of access to Justice at the US Department of Justice. Jesse is joined by students Fiona Dubay '24, Riley Arnold '25 and Maddie '25. He talks about the different ways of pushing change and how one should be passionate and care about the issues. It is also important to recognize how hard it is, and how painstakingly challenging it is to actually make progress from the inside.
Related Resources
Season One
Path to Public Policy with Sabrina Shulman '02
Sabrina Shulman '02, Chief Political Officer at Vote Run Lead, chats with students Lily Sloman '25, Nandini Sinha '23, and Rain Cedeno-Garcia '23. Sabrina describes the early experiences and relationship-building that helped shape her path, an evolving approach to work-life balance, and rewarding experiences in non-profit and private sector work. Sabrina speaks to students’ questions about negotiating salaries and supporting mental health in the workplace.
Related Resources
Perspectives in Publishing with Josh Gannon '04
Related Resources
Visual Arts in the Real World with Kate Pincus-Whitney '16
Artist Kate Pincus-Whitney '16, named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in 2022, joins us from her vibrant Los Angeles studio to talk with visual arts students Rio Caster '25, Natalia Chow '23, Sam Wendel '24. Their conversation covers Kate's pursuit of a holistic undergraduate education; how life events and a fellowship experience shaped her path as an artist; taking time off before grad school; painting as a way to synthesize her experience as a storyteller; connecting into universal themes and "golden threads"; diving into the depths of making meaning; the "weirdo magical stuff" that can emerge through a rigorous daily practice; and networking by being an active community member. Kate speaks to questions about back-up plans, challenges transitioning from making art in an academic setting to the professional world, keeping up a daily art practice when traveling, and building community.
Related Resources
Women in Film with Lois Stark '65
Emmy Award-winning producer, documentary filmmaker, and author Lois Stark '65 talks with Christine Dufur '23, Kelsey Harrison '23, Rachel Saruski '23 about considering the arc of an entire life beyond starting out; how "your sense of what is opportunity will change over time"; and the value of considering this arc in at least three ways: the Road Story (the linear narrative), the Ricochet (all those accidents that happen along the way), and the Evergreen (ideas, tendencies, and talents that stay true through life). Lois shares her experience through these three lenses and offers students wise perspectives to consider over a lifetime, including the strength in people who know you, that every good idea you have may seem like a bad idea at some point, and the ways in which a Sarah Lawrence education can help you create opportunities and adapt to the "ricochets."
Related Resources
Advancing Advocacy with Ava Mateo '20
Ava Mateo '20, Executive Director of 18by Vote, talks with Ashley Spector-Townsend '25, Gabriella Nanna '23, Paige Nelson '25, Lara O’Brien '25, Kristoph Sayavedra '23, Sahiba Singh '23, Soph Moazed '23, and Tamao Chika '23 about getting started during the pandemic; non-partisan civic engagement; centering young voices in advocacy; changes in youth voting and civic engagement; navigating work-life balance; initiating a Youth Mental Health Pledge for workplaces; how internships and being an RA helped prepare her for her current role; and the value of relationship building.
Related Resources
Then and Now: Healthcare Paths with Marilyn Russo '75
Licensed physical therapist Marilyn Russo '75 talks with students Hunter Erikkson '22, Yusef Mafton '24, and Kaiyue Sun '23. Marilyn describes her path from dance to physical therapy and how far Sarah Lawrence College has come in preparing students on pre-health tracks. Marilyn answers students' questions about getting started in her field, having second thoughts, and embracing moments of uncertainty. Marilyn speaks to the value of knowing one's strengths, asking for help when you need it, and enjoying life.